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Exploring the Factors Associated With Youth Homelessness and Arrests
Author(s) -
Fielding Kim,
Forchuk Cheryl
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.331
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1744-6171
pISSN - 1073-6077
DOI - 10.1111/jcap.12056
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , psychiatry , mental illness , psychology , population , clinical psychology , mental health , medicine , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
Problem The high rate of arrests among homeless youths has stimulated a growing interest in uncovering the factors associated with police involvement in this population. This study explored external factors related to their arrests. Method This secondary analysis involved 186 homeless youths. The difference between youths who reported arrests and those who did not was examined based on the following variables: economic status, meaningful activity, involvement with other homeless peers, mental illness, and drug use. Findings The results of this study showed a significant association between drug use and arrests, length of time homeless and arrests, and depression and arrests. Conclusion The various factors thought to be associated with arrests likely interact with one another, making it difficult to directly link a specific behavior to being arrested.